Baseball cap visor attachment

ABSTRACT

Eye protection apparatus includes a translucent member dimensioned and configured to extend in front of the eyes of an associated person to provide protection of the eyes of the user, the translucent member carrying a cylindrical member having a geometric axis. A clip is dimensioned and configured to engage the leading edge of the visor of an associated baseball cap and for engaging the cylindrical member whereby the translucent member can pivot about the geometric axis of the cylindrical member, the clip having 1st and 2nd parallel planar members, the 1st and 2nd parallel planar members each having respective 1st extremities fixed together by a U-shaped connection whereby the 1st and 2nd parallel planar members have an interference fit with respect to the visor of an associated baseball cap.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally directed to apparatus for protecting the eyes of a user including but not limited to screening sunlight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through eye protection apparatus that includes a translucent member dimensioned and configured to extend in front of the eyes of an associated person to provide protection of the eyes of the user. The translucent member supports a cylindrical member having a geometric axis. A clip is dimensioned and configured to engage the leading edge of the visor of an associated baseball cap and for engaging the cylindrical member whereby the translucent member can pivot about the geometric axis of the cylindrical member. The clip has 1st and 2nd parallel planar members. The 1st and 2nd parallel planar members each having respective 1st extremities fixed together by a U-shaped connection whereby the 1st and 2nd parallel planar members have an interference fit with respect to the visor of an associated baseball cap, the first parallel planar member having a 2nd extremity that includes a cylindrical section shaped sleeve dimensioned and configured for receiving the cylindrical member whereby the translucent member can be selectively pivoted about the geometric axis of the cylindrical member.

The recitation herein of desirable objects which are met by various embodiments of the present invention is not meant to imply or suggest that any or all of these objects are present as essential features, either individually or collectively, in the most general embodiment of the present invention or in any of its more specific embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Although specific features of various exemplary embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the clamp utilized in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the sunscreen/eye protection in a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is another isometric view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is another side view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the sunscreen/eye protection in the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the sunscreen/eye protection and the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the clamp used to secure and mount the sunscreen/eye protection to the leading edge of the visor of a baseball cap.

FIG. 16 is another isometric view of the clamp.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the clamp.

FIG. 18 is another isometric view of the clamp.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the clamp.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the clamp.

FIG. 21 is an isometric view of the clamp.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the clamp.

FIG. 23 is a front view of a baseball cap illustrating the leading edge of the visor intended for cooperation with the clamps of the respective embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1-4 there is shown the 1st embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes eye protection or protective shield 12 which may also be referred to herein as a sunscreen. The apparatus 10 further includes a mounting structure dimensioned and configured with engagement with the leading edge of the visor of an associated baseball hat. As best seen in FIG. 23 a baseball hat 14 has a visor 16 having the frontmost part thereof which is referred to herein as a leading edge 18. The mounting structure includes 1st and 2nd spaced apart clips 20. Each clip 20 comprises 1st and 2nd spaced apart elongated planar members 22, 24. The 1st and 2nd parallel planar members 22, 24 spaced apart to provide an interference fit with the visor 16 of the associated baseball hat. Each of the 1st planar members including a depending tab 26.

A translucent member 28 is dimensioned and configured to extend in front of the eyes of an associated person to provide protection of the eyes of the user. Fasteners 30 secure each depending tab 26 to the translucent member 12. Each of the 2nd planar members includes in one embodiment, an elongated depending ridge 32 to further secure the sunscreen and eye protection apparatus 10 to the visor 16 of the associated baseball cap 14. The depending ridge 32 and tab 26 on each mounting structure are substantially parallel.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-22 another embodiment of the present invention comprises a translucent member 40 dimensioned and configured to extend in front of the eyes of an associated person to provide protection of the eyes of the user. The translucent member 40 supports a cylindrical member 42 having a geometric axis. The translucent member 40 is carried by a clip 50 dimensioned and configured to engage the leading edge 18 of the visor 16 of an associated baseball cap 18. More specifically, the clip 50 engages the cylindrical member 42 whereby the translucent member 40 can pivot about the geometric axis of the cylindrical member 42. The clip 50 has 1st and 2nd parallel planar members 52, 54. The 1st and 2nd parallel planar members 52, 54 each have respective 1st extremities fixed together by a U-shaped connection 56 whereby said 1st and 2nd parallel planar members 52, 54 have an interference fit with respect to the visor 16 of an associated baseball cap 14, said first parallel planar member 52 having a 2nd extremity that includes a cylindrical section shaped sleeve 58 dimensioned and configured for receiving said cylindrical member 42 whereby the translucent member 40 can be selectively pivoted about the geometric axis of the cylindrical member 42.

The translucent member 40 includes in some embodiments a recess 58 proximate to the top thereof and the cylindrical member 42 spans the recess 58. The 2nd parallel planar member 54 may include a flange 60 disposed at the 2nd extremity thereof.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It will be understood that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims, are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of introductory phrases such as “at least one” or “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “an imager” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one imager”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, it will be recognized that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two images,” or “a plurality of images,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two images). Furthermore, in those instances where a phrase such as “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” or “a [item] selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C,” is used, in general, such a construction is intended to be disjunctive (e.g., any of these phrases would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, and may further include more than one of A, B, or C, such as A₁, A₂, and C together, A, B₁, B₂, C₁, and C₂ together, or B₁ and B₂ together). It will be further understood that virtually any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sunscreen and eye protection apparatus which comprises: a mounting structure dimensioned and configured with engagement with the leading edge of the visor of an associated baseball hat, said mounting structure including 1st and 2nd spaced apart clips, each clip comprising 1st and 2nd spaced apart elongated planar members, said 1st and 2nd parallel planar members being spaced apart to provide an interference fit with the visor of the associated baseball hat, each of said 1st planar members including a depending tab; a translucent member dimensioned and configured to extend in front of the eyes of an associated person to provide protection of the eyes of the user; and fasteners securing each depending tab to said translucent member.
 2. A sunscreen and eye protection apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein: each of said 2nd planar members include an elongated depending ridge to further secure the sunscreen and eye protection apparatus to the visor of the associated baseball cap.
 3. A sunscreen and eye protection apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said depending ridge and said tab on each mounting structure are substantially parallel.
 4. Eye protection apparatus which comprises: a translucent member dimensioned and configured to extend in front of the eyes of an associated person to provide protection of the eyes of the user, said translucent member carrying a cylindrical member having a geometric axis; a clip dimensioned and configured to engage the leading edge of the visor of an associated baseball cap and for engaging said cylindrical member whereby said translucent member can pivot about the geometric axis of said cylindrical member, said clip having 1st and 2nd parallel planar members, said 1st and 2nd parallel planar members each having respective 1st extremities fixed together by a U-shaped connection whereby said 1st and 2nd parallel planar members have an interference fit with respect to the visor of an associated baseball cap, said first parallel planar member having a 2nd extremity that includes a cylindrical section shaped sleeve dimensioned and configured for receiving said cylindrical member whereby said translucent member can be selectively pivoted about the geometric axis of said cylindrical member.
 5. The eye protection apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said translucent member includes a recess proximate to the top thereof and said cylindrical member spans said recess.
 6. The eye protection apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said 2nd parallel planar member includes a flange disposed at the 2nd extremity thereof. 